A Trip to Herndon Woods

I've been sitting at my computer trying to compose an e-mail to Fred Fiske. But it doesn't seem to be happening tonight. So instead, I shall update you, dear readers.

I reached Chris Martin last Monday. Unfortunately, he didn't have a lot of information on the Customliner. He suggested the answer might be found by knocking on doors or talking to senior citizens who might remember the event. He encouraged me to continue, noting that I would find the answer, it would just take some time.

Knocking on strangers' doors? That will take time. Most of the time will involve me getting up the nerve to do it.

Or so I thought, until a fellow musician and I took a field trip to Herndon Woods on Tuesday. This National Homes community still thrives on Austin Lane. A vintage car is even parked on the street. And through the large front windows of one of the homes, we noticed someone was inside.

"Should we go ask?" my friend says.

"We can't just walk up to their front door and knock!" was my first answer. But ... it could make a good story for the blog. And so we did.

Far from having the door slammed in our faces, my friend and I were greeted by a gracious young couple. They clearly had not been born when the Customliner arrived in Herndon, and didn't know much about their home's history other than it was built in 1955. But they did refer us to two long-time residents who might know.

Neither of these people were home at the time. But I took down their addresses and will attempt to locate phone numbers for them. And get in touch with Fred Fiske.

Once again, it's time to get on the phone.